Plant covering



Nov. 2, 1937.

A. c. FISCHER PLANT COVERING Filed Oct. l, 1954 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STAT-ES PLANT COVERING 7 Claims.

This invention relates to-a plant covering, particularly pertaining to a covering which maybe readily assembled and disassembled for protecting plants against early frosts. While the device may be more or less permanent in character, it is especially designed for covering large or small areas and thus maybe made up for temporary as Well as permanent use and installation.

The invention accordingly consists in the features, combinations and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described or claimed for carrying out the above stated object and such other objects as Will hereinafter appear in the description.

The aim of thepresent invention is to provide aroof, siding or framework for covering plants. It may be used in greenhouses, hotbeds and Vother small and large areasto protect'the plants from damaging frosts. Ordinarily in propagating early plants and also in the late season before the `plants are hardened, there is danger Yof irosts, and the present invention aims to lserve as a'more or less temporary or permanent protecting device, and during theseperiods may be readily assembled and disassembled, or if desired may be of a more permanent character and left in place from `season to season. `The structure of the device is such that the covering may be manipulated to protect the plants `during inclement or .frosty weather but in good Weather maybe opened to expose .the plants to the full beneiit of the atmosphere.

Fora better understanding of the .invention `reference may be made to the accompanying 35 drawing, in which .Figure 1,.is a top plan View of a section of a covering embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sideelevation o'fFigure "1 partly in cross section;

Figure 3 is a detailed View taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detailed View taken on line 4--4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detailed view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a modified form showing the glass frame section arranged in overlapping relation.

Referring specically to the drawing numeral I designates a frame member having mounted therein a series of transparent windows, such as glass 2, separated by spacing strips S. The ends of the window sections 2 are adapted to be received in the recesses Il of the frame member I. One or both sides of the frame member may be made so that it is readily disengaged for insertion Albert IC. Fischer, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 1,

1934, Serial No. '746,339

or removal of the Window sections 2 if any of same should become brokenf Any number of Window sections may be 'included in the frame and these may be of any size. In thelstructure of the frame it will 4be apparent that they are readilyassembled and disassembled without any fastening means other than the frame. vThe spacing strips 3 'maybe of any material but are preferably of some such material as rubber or plastic material, imolded into shape with opposite grooves 4 and 5 which are adapted to 'receive the edges of the'window sections. The spacing strips are of such character that they provide for yany contraction o1' expansion and also protect the Windows from being broken. The Vopposite ends of the frame I are provided with 4trunnions 6, whereby said frame may be pivotally `mounted upon supports or supporting elements LV'I. One frame member is preferably Amounted upon individual supports, whereby same is a unit and may be associatedwith other similarly constructed units. As a result `of this construction `any number of unitsmaybe associated, asfshovvn l`in Figures 1 'and 2,-to cover any-givenarea. These supports 'Ilare ypreferably secured by having one end 8 driven into the ground 9, `but the `invention is not limited 'to any particular mann'erin which the frame members are supported and any desirable manner of support is suitable-whether it 'be driven into the ground surface 9or rests thereupon. The supports 'I -may be Aiurther braced in pla'cebybraces I0.

In order to manipulate the window `frames to an open .or closed position, as lindicated -by the dotted and full line positions Yin Figure :2, each frame member may'beprovded atl'one end Awith Van arm I6,'pivotally attached to a-rod I I-:at I'2. One .end ofthe rod II is pivotally attached to an arm'I3 `at I4 and this arm may be actuated to open and close the frames. The lower end of the handle I3 may be pivoted to any xecl support, such as I5. When the window frames are in closed position, as shown by the full lines in Figure 2 the edges of the frame are in substantial abutting relation, there being only enough clearance between the ends of the frames to permit them being pivoted to open position as shown by the dotted lines. Thus the plants which are beneath the window frames are securely protected from the full atmosphere or from the entrance of any rain. If desired the covering may be made more tight by having the frame members of sufficient area whereby they may overlap, as shown in Figure 6.

',lhese frame members may be inserted in place frames the light rays may be reflected upon the other similar building.v n f While I have described andshown embodiments plants, therebytmaking it more effective. to accelerate the plantgrowth than if the covering were not used.

'I'he covering is not only adapted for these temporary structures, such as illustrated, but may also be advantageously adapted in a roof or wallv cover for greenhouses and the like,nanrd may there be also manipulated to open and closed position. A roof or wall structure may be made up entirely of said sections or they vmay be installed only to cover certain areas or certain portionsi'ofY the roof vor wallof said greenhouses or in-'detail it will be understood thatgthedetailed construction'is for the purpose of illustration and not as alimitation of the invention, and that there may be various changes in detail withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Iclaim2x 1. A devicefor vprotecting plants comprising ,two parallel rows of supporting columns with columnsin the two rows opposite one another, separate frames each pivoted on opposite columns of thetwoA rows, said frames. each carrying a transparent panel and being each swingable from a position substantially in-,alignmentwith one an- -other where they constitute a closure for i the Y space between thetwo rows to an open position.

. 2. YAY device for protecting plants comprising `two parallel rows of supporting columns with columns in the'htwo Vrows opposite: one another,

- separate frames each pivoted on oppositefcolumns ofthe two rows, said frames being eachswingable from a positionsubstantially in alignment with one another where they constitutea closure for Y the space between the two rows to anzopen position, and means for simultaneously swinging all of the frames to their open andclosed positions comprising arms securedtotherespective panels at their pivots andl extending substantially parallel to one another, anda connecting rod pivotally attached to al1 of Asaid armsfor'simultaneously Y turning them.

3. -A device for` protecting'` plants ."'cornplrising support elements, a covering ycornposed of a series of frames eachincluding Ya transparent panel and Y being pivoted approximately,V at the centers of its ends to said supportelements and each being swingable in a direction common Vto all from a position substantially in alinement with one another where they constitute a closure for the space between the two rows to an open position.

4. A device for protecting plants comprising support elements, a covering composed of a series of frames each including a transparent panel and 'being pivoted approximately at the centers of its ends to said support elements and each being swingable in a direction common to all from a position substantially in alinementwith one another where they constitute a closure for the space between the two rows to an open position, and means for operating said frames in unison comprising a relatively short crank lever associated with each frame and extending therefrom at such an angle as to be always on the same side ofl the plane of alinement of said frames, and a simple rod pivotally connected to all of said rows to an open position.

6. A device for protecting plants over an exvtended area comprising spaced rows of supporting columns with the columns in Vadjacent rows opposite one another, separate frames each `pivoted .on opposite columns of adjacent rows.;-

andthe frames between adjacent rows each being rswingable'from a position substantially in alinement with one another where they constitute a Vsubstantially continuous cover for the space between said adjacent rows to an open position,-l `and. means for simultaneously swinging all of a ,'.series of adjacent framesto their'open and closed "positions comprising arms connected with respect to the frames at Vtheir pivots and extendingsubstantially Yparallel with one another, and a con-- necting rodpivotally attached to allof said arms for simultaneously turning them.

7. A device for protecting plants comprising v vsupport elements, a covering composed fof a series .of frames each including a transparent panel and being'pivoted approximately at the centers Yof its ends to said support elements and each being swingable from a position substantially in alinement V.withone another where they constitute a closure for the space between the two rows to ana` open position, theV support elements comprising spaced posts and the spaces between lsaid posts being substantially open.

ALBERT C. FISCHER.. 

